Category Archives: Supply Chain Issues

The potential impact of copper concentrate stockpiles in China on copper prices

Posted on December 7, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “China’s Stock and Ore for Copper Prices” (November 22,2013) describes the over two months of copper concentrate (crushed copper ore) in inventory at China’s new smelters as against the usual two to … Continue reading →

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Making apparel in the USA and retail prices

Posted on December 7, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times titled “That ‘Made in the USA’ Premium (December 1,2013) describes the growth in US manufacturing of higher end apparel but the continued difficulty in domestic production of lower cost items. It cites production … Continue reading →

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Should independent bookstores sell Amazon’s Kindles ?

Posted on November 7, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times titled “An Offer from Amazon to its Most Bitter Rivals” (November 7,2013) describes an offer by Amazon to independent bookstores to sell Kindles in return for one of two options – a 6% … Continue reading →

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Traditional vs transparent Pharmacy Benefit Management companies

Posted on November 5, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in Fortune magazine titled “Painful Prescription” (October 28,2013) describes a traditional pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), Express Scripts and a transparent PBM, Envision Pharmaceutical Services. Transparent PBMs charge a fixed fee for processing prescriptions while traditional PBMs make money … Continue reading →

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Burning wood with coal to comply with EPA emissions rules

Posted on November 5, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times titled “Power plants try burning wood with coal to cut carbon emissions” (November 4, 2013), describes the use of sawdust and wood chunks along with coal to reduce carbon emissions in US power … Continue reading →

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The EU regulation harmonization and the story of lawnmower decibel limits

Posted on October 16, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Financial Times titled “Why Europe needs cross-border lawnmower regulations” (October 16, 2013) describes a law setting the maximum noise level generated by lawn mowers. The limits were in response to German laws demanding lower decibel levels … Continue reading →

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The US govenment shutdown, US imports delays, and local production impact

Posted on October 15, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times titled “Shutdown’s quiet toll, from idled research to closed wallets” (October 11, 2013) describes how lack of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) inspectors at ports has delayed goods at US ports. Chemicals held at … Continue reading →

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Walmart ‘s Made in the USA goal and impact

Posted on October 15, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Pitching to Walmart – Made in the USA” (October 7,2013) describes plans by Walmart to increase their US sourcing by $5 billion each year. But the company wants to hold customer prices, … Continue reading →

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Understanding and fixing the 244% inflation for onion prices in India

Posted on October 15, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Financial Express titled “Dousing the vegetable fire” (October 11, 2013) describes the 244% price rise between between August 2012 and 2013. The authors highlight that 50% of the onion production in India is in two states … Continue reading →

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Should Lumber Liquidators be responsible for its Chinese supplier’s wood sources

Posted on September 28, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Lumber Liquidators’ Offices Raided) (Sept 28, 2013 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303342104579101042712448428.html) describes a Federal government raid on Lumber Liquidators’ offices to find evidence of use of Mongolian oak and Korean pine logged illegally in Russia. … Continue reading →

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